Phonetics Midterm #1 Study Guide: Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism

Vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy and physiology of speech production, including respiratory, laryngeal, and supralaryngeal systems, myoelastic-aerodynamic theory, and source-filter theory.

Respiratory system

The system that provides the energy source for speech through airflow.

Laryngeal system

The system responsible primarily for phonation.

Supralaryngeal system

The system responsible primarily for articulation and shaping the sound.

Anatomy

The structure of a body part.

Physiology

The function of a body structure.

Inhalation

The process where the diaphragm contracts and lowers, expanding the thoracic cavity and decreasing pressure inside the lungs relative to atmospheric pressure, causing air to flow into the lungs.

Exhalation

The process where the diaphragm relaxes and rises, making the thoracic cavity smaller so elastic recoil helps lungs deflate and provide the energy needed for speech.

Hyoid bone

A structure located above the larynx that does not directly articulate with another bone.

Thyroid cartilage

The largest laryngeal cartilage.

Cricoid cartilage

A signet-ring shaped cartilage that forms the base of the laryngeal framework.

Arytenoid cartilages

Paired cartilages that sit on the cricoid, to which the posterior portions of the vocal folds attach.

Epiglottis

A leaf-like structure that helps protect the airway during swallowing.

Trachea

The structure located below the larynx.

Glottis

The space between the vocal folds.

Adduction

Vocal-fold movement where the vocal folds move together or toward the midline.

Abduction

Vocal-fold movement where the vocal folds move apart and the glottis opens.

Phonation

The production of voice through the interaction of vocal-fold activity and airflow, created by repeated opening and closing of the glottis.

Subglottal pressure

Pressure that builds below the adducted vocal folds until it pushes them apart to initiate vocal-fold vibration.

Elastic recoil

The property of vocal-fold tissue to return toward its original position after being displaced, helping draw the vocal folds back together.

Bernoulli effect

The principle stating that as airflow velocity increases through a constriction (such as the glottis), pressure at that constriction decreases, helping to draw the vocal folds toward midline.

Fundamental frequency (F0)

A physical or acoustic measurement of how rapidly the vocal folds vibrate.

Pitch

The perceptual correlate of fundamental frequency.

Intensity

An acoustic property whose perceptual correlate is loudness.

Loudness

The perceptual correlate most closely associated with intensity.

Resonance

A quality affected by the shape and configuration of structures above the larynx that contributes to the perceived quality or timbre of a sound.

Vocal tract

The system formed together by the pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity.

Velopharyngeal port

A structure whose opening and closing controls oral versus nasal airflow to help distinguish between oral and nasal phonemes.

Source (Source-Filter Theory)

The element that provides energy or initial sound; respiration provides energy and vocal-fold vibration provides the sound source during voiced speech.

Filter (Source-Filter Theory)

The vocal tract, which modifies the original sound source through changes in the shape of articulators such as the tongue, jaw, lips, oral cavity, and pharynx.